"Michael felt safe and comfortable, and knowing the network's so much about empowerment and positive change, he feels like it's a good place to be," Sam’s spokesman, Howard Bragman, told the Columbia Missourian.

Sam, who played for the University of Missouri, announced he was gay on Feb. 9. When the Rams took him in the seventh round (249th overall) of the NFL draft, he became the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team.

Winfrey met with Sam over lunch and convinced him that her network was the best platform to tell the story of his preparation to make the Rams’ squad.

"Be advised: Michael's number one job is to make the football team," Bragman said. "If it comes to a choice between the doc and football, we're always going to err on the side of football."

Bragman said the documentary is not going to be a reality show.

"It's more respected,” Bragman said. “It's more historical, it's more appropriate for this case. We didn't want to do a silly reality show. This is not silly."

A crew has begun filming Sam, including his press conference on Tuesday in St. Louis and his reaction Saturday when he was chosen by St. Louis - kissing his boyfriend Vito Cammisano, which ESPN aired during its draft coverage.

About Bob Wolfley

Bob Wolfley retired in October 2014 He wrote the SportsDay blog and column and about TV and radio issues.